Holy Synod session held at the Patriarchate of Georgia.

The session was chaired by His Holiness and Beatitude Catholicos Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II. The session speaker was Metropolitan Nikoloz (Pachuashvili) of Akhalkalaki and Kumurdo Eparchy.

The session was not attended by Metropolitan Athanase (Chakhvashvili) of Rustavi and Marneuli Eparchy, Metropolitan Gerasime (Sharashenidze) of Zugdidi and Tsaishi Eparchy, Archbishop Zosime (Shioshvili) of Tsilkani and Dusheti Eparchy, Archbishop Elise (Jokhadze) of Nikortsminda Eparchy.

1. His Holiness and Beatitude Catholicos Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II made a welcome speech and briefly discussed current difficult political situation in Georgia, and expressed his hope for peaceful solutions.

2. Metropolitan Nikoloz (Pachuashvili) of Akhalkalaki and Kumurdo Eparchy, and Metropolitan Isaiah (Chanturia) of Nikozi and Tskhinvali submitted a speech on difficult social and economic situation at their eparchies. The Holy Synod decided to appeal to the President of Georgia to grant historical Akhalkalaki Fortress with its surrounding territories to Akhalkalaki and Kumurdo Eparchy.

3. Metropolitan Theodore (Chuadze) of Akhaltsikhe and Tao-Klarjeti Eparchy submitted information on the signed Agreement between State of Georgia and Georgian Apostolic Autocephaly Orthodox Church on sending prisoners to monasteries. The Holy Synod decided to ask bishops submit a list of monasteries ready to receive the prisoners.

4. Catholicos Patriarch of All Georgia submitted an offer on development and widening of Educational Committee at the Patriarchate of Georgia. The Holy Synod decided to turn the Educational Committee into the Educational Centre. The Holy Synod adopted the members of the Centre; the Chairman – Bishop John (Gamrekeli) of Tsurtavi Eparchy, and the Centre members – Metropolitan Grigol (Berbichashvili) of Poti and Khobi Eparchy, Metropolitan Dimitri (Shiolashvili) of Batumi and Lazeti Eparchy, Archbishop Andria (Gvazava) of Samtavisi and Gori Eparchy, Archpriest Theodore Gignadze, Archpriest Michael Galdava.

5. The Holy Synod discussed issues of Georgian corn, vine and other national cultures revival. The Holy Synod decided to form an Agriculture Development Centre. The Centre will be managed by Metropolitan David (Makharadze) of Alaverdi Eparchy. The Centre will care about revival and development of local agricultural species and support of ecologically pure products.

6. Upon consent by Metropolitan Sergi (Chekurishvili) of Nekresi and Hereti Eparchy, the Holy Synod decided to grant Hereti region a status of being under direct supervision by the Catholicos Patriarch and appoint a Father Superior there.

7. Metropolitan Abraham (Garmelia) of Western European Eparchy informed the Holy Synod about existing difficulties and ways of solutions in the Eparchy. The Holy Synod decided to:

a) Separate Great Britain and irland out of the Western European Eparchy. Appoint Bishop Zenon (Yarajuli) of Dmanisi and Agarak-Tashiri Eparchy as a ruler of the Georgian parish in Great Britain and Ireland;

b) Appoint Metropolitan Dimitri (Shiolashvili) as a ruler of the Georgian parish in North America and Canada, and name him Metropolitan of Batumi and Lazeti Eparchy and ruler of Georgian parish in North America and Canada;

c) Appoint Metropolitan Nikoloz (Pachuashvili) of Akhalkalaki and Kumurdo Eparchy as a ruler of the Georgian parish in South America, and name him Metropolitan of Akhalkalaki and Kumurdo Eparchy and ruler of Georgian parish in South America;

d) Appoint Bishop Shio (Mujiri) of Senaki and Chkhorotsku Eparchy as a ruler of the Georgian parish in Australia, and name him Bishop of Senaki and Chkhorotsku Eparchy and ruler of Georgian parish in Australia.

8. The Holy Synod decided to form an Analytical Centre for drafting school curriculums requiring deep knowledge and thinking development skills.

9. The Holy Synod chose Archimandrite Melqisedek (Khachidze) to consecrate bishop and name him Bishop of Hereti Eparchy. The consecration ceremony is to be held on 3rd May at Svetitskhoveli Cathedral.

The Patriarchate of Georgia 30 April 2009

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